Soldering flux



Patented Apr. 27, 1948 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE SOLD ERING FLUX Keith Kennedy MacDougall, Chambly Canton,

Quebec, and John Arthur Labash, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, assignors to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware jNo Drawing; Application April 21, 1944, Serial No. 532,202. In Canada April 29, 1943 2 Claims. (Cl. 148--23) cleaned and then maintained inthis condition during the soldering operation. of the known chemical cleaning agents fluxes are probably the most Widely used since they can be adapted not only to remove any adhering film of metallic oxide, oil, grease, etc. from the surface of the metal but also to maintain the cleaned metallic surface free from oxide impurities which would otherwise be formed during the solderinggoperation. The soldering fluxes most widely used commercially are those of the non-corrosive type as represented by a resin base flux or those of the corrosive type having zinc chloride or a mixture of zinc chloride and ammonium chloride as the principal active ingredient. If to this latter type is added a metallic oxide such as zinc oxide the flux will be basic while one containing free acid such as hydrochloric acid is known as an acid corrosive flux. It is withthis latter type that our invention is primarily concerned.

Soldering fluxes of the "types describedabove work satisfactorily using a conventional tin-lead solder such as one containing 50% lead and 50% tin, They do not, however, work with comparable success with higher melting point solders such as those currently in use by industry, of which the so-called low tin (containing 40% or less tin) or lead-silver solders are illustrative. This is particularly true when high speed soldering is required as under such conditions the conventional corrosive type fluxes do not function satisfactorily in preparing the metallic surface while the non-corrosive or organic base fluxes decompose at temperatures below the melting point of the low tin or lead-silver solders. In neither instance is a satisfactory bond obtained.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a soldering flux which when used in conjunction with high melting point solders will pro vide a more satisfactory bond than heretofore obtainable. A further object is to provide a soldering flux containing zinc chloride or a mixture of zinc chloride and ammonium chloride which is particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with low tin or lead-silver solders. At still further object is to provide an acid flux containing a mixture of zinc chloride and ammonium chloride which when used with solders of the low tin or lead-silver type will provide a satisfactory bond on steel and zinc surfaces.

These objects are accomplished in accordance with our invention by the addition of from .5 to

5 percent by weight, based on the total solids weight, of a water soluble copper salt to an acid flux Such as one'containing a mixture of zinc chloride and ammonium chloride. Preferably the copper salt added is cupric chloride but any water soluble copper salt may be used, provided that an insoluble compound is not formed by double decomposition and provided the acidity of the flux composition is so adjusted that the copper salt will not precipitate out as the hydroxide. The

presence of the copper salt in the improved flux composition of our invention ensures a satisfactory and enduring bond when low tinor leadsilver solders are used, the main reason for this being apparently due to plating out of the copper salt as metallic copper on the surface of the metal to be soldered. Hence the flux not only acts to initially clean the metal surface and then to protect it from further oxidation during the soldering operation but also provides a surface which has increased adherence to and for the molten solder. I

The following formula, is illustrative of a. preferred soldering flux composition-embodying our Wetting agent (sulphated fatty alcohol type) Water The application of suflicient heat to melt the solder also has an effect on the action of the flux so that both the metal surface to be soldered and 'the layer of copper deposited thereon are rendered highly active. Thus activated, the metal surface and the copper deposit will unite readily with the molten solder as it is applied. The copper deposit also alloys with the solder and improves the alloying qualities of the solder at the solder-metal junction. In addition, we have found that the alloy of solder and copper formed at the solder-metal junction possesses excellent flow characteristics thus promoting the penetration of the solder into small cracks and crevices alloy surfaces and using a low tin or lead-silver solder, a flux made up according to the above formula gives results far superior to those obtainable using a conventional acid corrosive flux. Excellent coverage with solder .is achieved and fiowability of the solder while still liquid is improved, bothresulting in a, highly satisfactory bond.

The proportions stated in the above formula appear to give the best results althoughsuperior results are attained with wide variations of both the proportions and total amount-ofthejingre'dients. As previously stated, the watersolubleicqpper salt should be present --in .amountseranging from .5 to 5 percent by weight based on the total solids weight. While cupric chloride has been specified as the preferred water-soluble *copper salt, other soluble copper salts such as "copper nitrate, copper citrate, copper formate, .copper borate, copper salicylate and copper bromate may be used.

Then-presence of .a wetting agent as indicated above is not absolutely'essentialbut .sinceit .en-

sures an intimate contact between the .fiux and the surface to which it is applied andthus .pro-

motes the cleaning-action :of the .flux, its .use is desirable. While the .choice of wetting agents .is

limitedaonly .by rcompatability with the ingredirentszofthe +fiux,--we have found that satisfactory results can-be obtained by using .a wetting .agent :of the types represented by the sulphated fatty -fzailcol'iols'iand the sulphonated esters of .dicarboxylic acids.

:For certain purposes 'where the use of ,apastetype flux @is considered more desirable, part .of the-water in the formulagiven above may be :replaced by petrolatum. Our invention likewise,

contemplates the 'use of .zinc chloride per se or itheedouble :salt -zinc ammonium chloride, instead --of -amixture ofizinc' chlcrideandammonium chloride as specified-above. Although described with particular reference to use in conjunctionwith low tin and lead-silversolderson steel and .zinc

"surfaces, 'our soldering .fiux may also .be .successfully used with ordinary grades of ,tinelead solder and on other ferrous metals as Wellas on copper and copper alloys.

. Themethod .of mmpounding the .flux of our .-inv,ention-.is.not limited to any .set procedure although generally We have found it .most .con-

.4 venient to dissolve the zinc chloride and arm monium chloride in part of the water and the water soluble copper salt in the remaining portion of the water. The two portions are then ..inixed,.,the wetting agent added -and .the whole As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made withoutfieparting from the spirit and scope thereof, it is EIO iitoijaieaunderstood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described except :as defined in the appended Having thus jdescribed our invention what we claimzis 1. A soldering flux having an acidity equivalent -=to lllrr5part by*wight of HCl and having substantially thefollowing composition:

2. Asol-dering flux-as "claimed n claim '"l'where- "in the wetting agent is "a sulphated "fatty alcohol.

KEITH KENNEDY MACDOUGALL. JOHN ARTHUR LABASH.

REFERENCES "CIT-ED .fl he .following ..references are =of record in the file .of this ,patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 87,968 Rand .Mar. .16, .1869 139297 400x v iMay J27, .1873 139,490 Yager .June 3, .1873 $399,810 Shoemaker Dec. 13, .1921 1,587,637 .Ferguson June .18, I926 .1,800,'4'l7 "Schweitzer .Apr.-14, 19.31 1 ,811;'66.7 Gravell June 23, I931 ..1,968,794 Bertsch "July 31, 1934 1,974,436 Schweitzer .Sept. T25, .1934 2,352,905 Lun'dbye 3111314,.11'944 FOREIGN P-ATENTS Number "Country Date 494,381 -Great"Britain Oct.25 "1938 

